The beginning of the endI texted my dad the day before that Desiree was due for surgery the next day. He viewed the message but didn't reply, didn't call her to wish her good luck or anything like that. His attitude makes me furious.They remove her nasogastric tube, and we walk to the operating room. She is smiling. The nurse informs her that she needs to leave her sandals and wear a kind of cap for her feet. Desiree hands me the sandals, gives me one last look, and walks off into the OR, happily walking. I watch her disappear as soon as the door is closed, and I pray softly that God will protect her and free my mother from any complications.I sit on one of the benches and stay there for about four hours, waiting, while patients come and go. Not only that, but I observe Lourdes approaching and sitting next to me.— Go home, girl – she advises me – these procedures take six to eight hours.— I was told that her surgery was simple – I find her explanation strange.— For removal of ga
While I was at the hospital with Aurora, my cell phone rang. Sandro asked why it was taking so long. After turning off the cell phone, I asked myself if all the financial facilities that Gonzalo offered me were worth my freedom.I left furious that he wouldn't let me spend more time with her. Aurora definitely found my attitude weird and I needed to get this resolved ASAP.I decided to invite Naldo to visit my house. At dawn, when Sandro was sleeping, in fact at that time I could even run away because of his heavy sleep, I wrote a letter."Hello NaldoYou may find it strange that I am writing you a letter. I could send you a message or something digitally, but when you read this letter, you'll understand my motives. I didn't come from Rio de Janeiro to fulfill any dream, on the contrary, since the day I arrived here my life has turned into hell. When I was in Rio de Janeiro, I found out that my father was cheating on my mother. I took him in the arms of another woman, and for defying
I'll be there in half an hourThe days in the hospital pass and Desiree is finally discharged. She walks around the hospital clutching a pillow in a black dress with puffy sleeves. Her face is beaming, she has a fixed smile on her face. Claudio accompanies her. She takes one of her hands and I follow close behind her, relieved in my heart to finally get my mother back home.Before we get into the car waiting for us at the entrance to the medical clinic, my cell phone vibrates. Gene's message.“Hello Aurora, beautiful as the morning. I'm going to your house to see Aunt Desiree. I heard she was released from the hospital."How did she find out? I say out loud as soon as I sit down next to Mom.— Know what? – Desiree looks at me questioningly.— It's Geane – I sketched a dull smile – she says she's coming over to visit you.— What wonderful news, – he exults.— That's right, – I say and immediately shut up.I don't find it so amazing because she disappeared for almost a month. No messag
Chapter twenty-twoAs soon as I enter the house, I send a message to Naldo.“Got something interesting to do today? How about we meet at the northern abode?”Minutes later he replies“Sure, what hours?“I'll be there in half an hour”I take a quick shower and get dressed. When I leave, Claudio is sitting next to Desiree keeping her company. I walk past the two of them without saying anything, but he fixes his eyes on me.— Goes to where? – I stop at the door.— I'm meeting a friend, – I say.Not that I owed any satisfaction to Claudio, but I was trying hard not to make our relationship a martyr to Desiree herself.— Take advantage of the walk to hand out some resumes – he looks away at the cell phone that is in one of his hands – your mother is already home, so you can go back to work.— There's no need for that, Claudio – I watch my mother get upset and I realize how much my effort to keep peace between us is in vain, if Claudio doesn't do his part.— Don't be upset about its mom. C
LukeA week has passed since I gave the book to Naldo and no response has been given after that. My anxiety was clear, so much so that Sandro himself was suspicious and even asked a few times what I was hiding so much from him.Perhaps revenge had a high price to pay. And my freedom was also at stake, because even if Gonçalo had given me back the funds, I was still tied to him.I picked up the cell phone and called Aurora, maybe she could help me find out what had happened to Naldo.“Hi” I said“Hi, Luke” she sounded excited as she spoke to me.“Are you alright? Is your mother?” I asked, not knowing how to act in cases like this.I could cut right to the chase, but I didn't want to be rude to her.“Okay, yes,” he replied, but didn't say anything else.“Have you heard from Naldo?” I finally asked, “I really need to talk to him”.“I spoke to him a few days ago,” he replied. “Are you all right, Luke? I can hear your worried tone.”Could it be that I couldn't disguise my anxiety even on t
Geane and meFor a while, I was very reluctant to accept what fate had in store for me. I just realized that we can't escape the inevitable. When I look back and remember everything, even if the pain hits me hard, I take comfort in knowing that I enjoyed every second intensely, even without knowing that that would be the end.I'm in the kitchen with Desirée, and she's been home for over twenty days now. We are making a cake together. She sings one of those very old songs that almost everyone knows, while stirring the cake batter. I turn on the oven and prepare the mold with margarine and wheat flour and watch her so happily. She wears a pink apron, her hair is tied up in a bun high on top of her head, and she's even more blushing. A smile of pure satisfaction forms on my face. Nothing would make me happier than seeing her right now, well and full of life. I hand the form to her, and she fills it, handing it to me right after. I put it inside the oven, and we go back to the living room
That morning, I received a message from Naldo, telling me that Geane had scheduled another literary meeting. Would you make a mistake if you went on this date without her permission or without being invited? It took me just a few seconds to decide, as I had already showered, I just changed my clothes, determined to go there and show Geane that I was also part of all that. I always felt good when it came to thinking fast, even though I often made decisions on pure impulse, I wasn't the type of girl to be scared. I knew the consequences and assumed them before I even knew them. Not only that, but I smiled to myself when I saw my reflection in the mirror. I hadn't mentioned it, but Desirée also bought me new clothes. As much as Claudio denied it, she earned well-being a creative handicraft teacher, but he would never assume such a fact, not even to see her happy.Before going, I stopped by her room to see if I could go in peace. Desirée was lying on her stomach. He seemed to feel no pain
The goodbye time I don't think I've ever walked so fast in my life. There was a stretch where I saw myself running, out of breath and desperate through the streets, bumping into people, where the movement was more intense. My voice was barely heard when I apologized. If people knew the chaos that each one lived, they would be kinder to each other. But I didn't expect kindness from anyone, I put up with the curses, the ugly faces, I just wanted this nightmare where my mother was the center to end right away. I found Claudio and Desiree at reception. He yelled at the attendant, saying it was urgent. Soon a nurse appeared and took her to be seen. While my highly-altered father did her chart, I accompanied Desiree to the doctor's office. A cry stuck in my throat prevented me from saying anything. She was breathing hard as she walked. I left her inside the office and left before collapsing. She was supposed to be fine. Why is it happening all over again? I leaned against the wall and l